Steady state

A state in which equilibrium has been achieved. In reference to antiepileptic drugs, steady state is achieved when a constant daily dose of a drug produces consistent blood levels of the drug (takes at least five times the half-life of the drug in question).

Syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms that collectively define or characterize a disease or disorder; signs are objective findings such as weakness, and symptoms are subjective findings such as a feeling of fear or tingling in a finger.

Task-based functional MRI (tb-fMRI)

Task-based functional MRI (tb-fMRI) is a relatively new type of test, which has FDA approval, and is broadly available.  Is shows where brain networks, such as those that control language or movement are located.  Generally, the patient needs to be awake and reliably able to perform tasks such as language testing while in the MRI…

Thalamus

The portion of the brain which is involved in sensory perception and regulation of motor functions. It connects areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in sensory perception and movement with other parts of the brain and spinal cord that also have a role in sensation and movement.

Therapeutic blood level

The amount of drug circulating in the bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by others.